Terrible service from Parking Services

JPWRana · 01-09-05, 07:52 PM

I've wanted 2 rant about this for a while, but I've been 2 lazy 2 write about it.

At the end of last quarter, my car battery had died out because I had left the lights on... no big deal, it's happened b4 and I know the drill: I go 2 parking services, ask them to give me a boost.

After a big hassle of where I am parked (yes!! they ask what streets and all), I wait.... no biggie, it's usually no more than 10 minutes.

After it started, I FOOLISHLY didn't wait for it 2 warm up b4 i peeled out. We'll, no more than 40 yards later and my car died out... AGAIN... with the little momentum it had left i swerved it back to the student parking lot.

Now the pain comes!!!

I go back 2 parking services and tell them what happened.

1) They debate whether they are allowed to give me a boost twice. After convincing them that it's not my car and that I don't need 2 call AAA or someone to tow it, they agree to give me another boost.

2) I waited over 45 minutes to get boosted. The only reason I didn't wait longer was because I got in the way of one of the white parking services truck and pointed to my car, which was in the middle of the parking lot BLOCKING TRAFFIC in the section where the dorm ppl park.

3) During my 45 minute wait I had gone to parking services like 6 times and asked them what's up with the delay. Some phucking stupid white boy keeps on telling me 1) he'll call them 2) to be patient 3) that they have their duties too to fulfill first 4) they tried looking 4 u but didnt c u 5) they're on their way. This is the reason why I don't like putting campus kids to work in services they arent TRAINED FOR.

The only good thing was that the cop that boosted me the 2nd time was REAL COOL AND PATIENT with my car trying 2 start up cuz it took ALOT LONGER THAN 8 MINUTES TRYING 2 START UP.

Ketcham82 · 01-09-05, 10:57 PM

Yeah. Good story. Anyway, jumping your car is bad. It messes up your alternator.

david90 · 01-09-05, 11:27 PM

u might wanna have your alternator check out. After a car is boosted and running, the majority of the electrical power comes from the alternator. Ur car shuts off like might be a sign of a bad alternator.

Why didn't u ask fellow students to boost u? I'm sure most will be happy to give it to u. I would

scannergeek · 01-12-05, 10:32 PM

Did you actually go to the Parking Services building? I've always called them. I've had to get a boost a couple times, and have never had to wait more than 10 minutes after I called.
I had a problem where the radiator cooling fan would not shut off, draining the battery. I had to call them twice in two days. I was never hassled or anything.

**zoedragon** · 01-13-05, 12:05 PM

Is it bad for your alternator if you help jump start another car? I always carry jumper cables with me not because my battery dies but because other people around me need jumping.

david90 · 01-13-05, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoedragon

Is it bad for your alternator if you help jump start another car? I always carry jumper cables with me not because my battery dies but because other people around me need jumping.

no it's not.

That's a nice of u. I give u 5 smiles

***Admin*** · 01-13-05, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david90

no it's not.

It only affects the battery?

Postergirl7 · 01-13-05, 09:21 PM

dang - how old is your car. I have a 99 mazda 626 and I leave it parked with the lights on often. after about 3 minutes of having the lights on with no key in the ignition the lights shut off on their own - i have never had to jump start my car again!

**zoedragon** · 01-14-05, 08:06 AM

Not all cars have that nifty feature though. My little 95 Civic didn't have lights that shut off automatically. Only left 'em on once though. I don't know if I like that feature though, if not all cars have them. Some people, such as my mom, get used to not shutting off their lights because the car does it for them. What happens when one day they're in a car that doesn't do that? They'll likely forget to shut them off and kill the battery.

One time I was walking into a store and this lady was coming out of her minivan. Her lights were still on as she shut her door, so I pointed out that her lights were still on. She looked at me, an annoyed look on her face, and informed me that they turned off automatically. Well excuuuuuse me!

**zoedragon** · 01-14-05, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david90

no it's not.

That's a nice of u. I give u 5 smiles

Why thank you! That'll make up for the times people frown away my help.

When I bought my first car I also bought the jumper cables the very next day. My mom asks me, "Why are you getting jumper cables? Your car is brand new!" I guess she hadn't yet realized that I'm a frighteningly sappy good samaritan, or that new cars aren't all immune to batteries being drained by forgotten lights.

Postergirl7 · 01-14-05, 11:04 AM

Good point Zoe...... the fact that they shut off automatically makes it difficult when you are trying to change a tire on the side of the road at night.

JPWRana · 01-15-05, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scannergeek

Did you actually go to the Parking Services building? I've always called them. I've had to get a boost a couple times, and have never had to wait more than 10 minutes after I called.
I had a problem where the radiator cooling fan would not shut off, draining the battery. I had to call them twice in two days. I was never hassled or anything.

yes i actually went 2 the parking services building... HECK EVEN A FEW TIMES!!! like 7 times.

My 1st time that day i waited no more than 6 minutes. the 2nd time after 40 minutes i had to stop a truck so he can boost me.

I know my alternator is bad, but the problem was ME and not letting the car give it time to charge up... that part IS MY FAULT.

JPWRana · 01-15-05, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Postergirl7

dang - how old is your car. I have a 99 mazda 626 and I leave it parked with the lights on often. after about 3 minutes of having the lights on with no key in the ignition the lights shut off on their own - i have never had to jump start my car again!

1987 Toyota Corolla. It's soo bad that it's a perfect contender for "Pimp my Ride"

**zoedragon** · 01-17-05, 08:58 AM

A nephew of mine has a Civic station wagon about that old. We submitted it to Pimp My Ride (we all live like 10 minutes from West Coast Customs) and they were interested, however they do so many Civics that they turned it down. Same thing with his beat-up Nissan Sentra. The Japanese cars are the only things running when they get that old, so no wonder there are so many.

***Admin*** · 01-17-05, 04:48 PM

Everyone has their bad days.
One time, my car would not startup because of the battery. So I went ahead, popped open the hood and tampered with the battery. The parking officer simply drives by, not bothering to help or even ask, "Any problems?"

How safe is our vehicles, really?

scannergeek · 01-17-05, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KayCee

How safe is our vehicles, really?

Only as safe as the parking officer's paycheck.

01-09-05, 07:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
JPWRana Guru Joined: Oct 2003 Location: where the 605 and 10 fwy's cross Posts: 884	Terrible service from Parking Services I've wanted 2 rant about this for a while, but I've been 2 lazy 2 write about it. At the end of last quarter, my car battery had died out because I had left the lights on... no big deal, it's happened b4 and I know the drill: I go 2 parking services, ask them to give me a boost. After a big hassle of where I am parked (yes!! they ask what streets and all), I wait.... no biggie, it's usually no more than 10 minutes. After it started, I FOOLISHLY didn't wait for it 2 warm up b4 i peeled out. We'll, no more than 40 yards later and my car died out... AGAIN... with the little momentum it had left i swerved it back to the student parking lot. Now the pain comes!!! I go back 2 parking services and tell them what happened. 1) They debate whether they are allowed to give me a boost twice. After convincing them that it's not my car and that I don't need 2 call AAA or someone to tow it, they agree to give me another boost. 2) I waited over 45 minutes to get boosted. The only reason I didn't wait longer was because I got in the way of one of the white parking services truck and pointed to my car, which was in the middle of the parking lot BLOCKING TRAFFIC in the section where the dorm ppl park. 3) During my 45 minute wait I had gone to parking services like 6 times and asked them what's up with the delay. Some phucking stupid white boy keeps on telling me 1) he'll call them 2) to be patient 3) that they have their duties too to fulfill first 4) they tried looking 4 u but didnt c u 5) they're on their way. This is the reason why I don't like putting campus kids to work in services they arent TRAINED FOR. The only good thing was that the cop that boosted me the 2nd time was REAL COOL AND PATIENT with my car trying 2 start up cuz it took ALOT LONGER THAN 8 MINUTES TRYING 2 START UP.

01-09-05, 10:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ketcham82 Enthusiast Joined: Dec 2003 Location: Covina Posts: 188	Yeah. Good story. Anyway, jumping your car is bad. It messes up your alternator. __________________ ANNUIT COEPTIS - NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM

01-13-05, 12:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
zoedragon Fire-breather Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Inglewood, CA Posts: 668	Is it bad for your alternator if you help jump start another car? I always carry jumper cables with me not because my battery dies but because other people around me need jumping. __________________ - Affordable website design found here -

01-13-05, 09:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
Postergirl7 Newcomer Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Glendora Posts: 41	dang - how old is your car. I have a 99 mazda 626 and I leave it parked with the lights on often. after about 3 minutes of having the lights on with no key in the ignition the lights shut off on their own - i have never had to jump start my car again! __________________ Looking for the Goodies....

01-14-05, 08:06 AM	#9 (permalink)
zoedragon Fire-breather Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Inglewood, CA Posts: 668	Not all cars have that nifty feature though. My little 95 Civic didn't have lights that shut off automatically. Only left 'em on once though. I don't know if I like that feature though, if not all cars have them. Some people, such as my mom, get used to not shutting off their lights because the car does it for them. What happens when one day they're in a car that doesn't do that? They'll likely forget to shut them off and kill the battery. One time I was walking into a store and this lady was coming out of her minivan. Her lights were still on as she shut her door, so I pointed out that her lights were still on. She looked at me, an annoyed look on her face, and informed me that they turned off automatically. Well excuuuuuse me! __________________ - Affordable website design found here -

01-09-05, 11:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
david90 Enthusiast Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 152	u might wanna have your alternator check out. After a car is boosted and running, the majority of the electrical power comes from the alternator. Ur car shuts off like might be a sign of a bad alternator. Why didn't u ask fellow students to boost u? I'm sure most will be happy to give it to u. I would

01-12-05, 10:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
scannergeek Active Member Joined: Apr 2004 Location: Fullerton Posts: 109	Did you actually go to the Parking Services building? I've always called them. I've had to get a boost a couple times, and have never had to wait more than 10 minutes after I called. I had a problem where the radiator cooling fan would not shut off, draining the battery. I had to call them twice in two days. I was never hassled or anything.

01-14-05, 11:04 AM	#11 (permalink)
Postergirl7 Newcomer Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Glendora Posts: 41	Good point Zoe...... the fact that they shut off automatically makes it difficult when you are trying to change a tire on the side of the road at night. __________________ Looking for the Goodies....

01-17-05, 08:58 AM	#14 (permalink)
zoedragon Fire-breather Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Inglewood, CA Posts: 668	A nephew of mine has a Civic station wagon about that old. We submitted it to Pimp My Ride (we all live like 10 minutes from West Coast Customs) and they were interested, however they do so many Civics that they turned it down. Same thing with his beat-up Nissan Sentra. The Japanese cars are the only things running when they get that old, so no wonder there are so many. __________________ - Affordable website design found here -

01-17-05, 04:48 PM	#15 (permalink)
*Admin* Think About It Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,974	Everyone has their bad days. One time, my car would not startup because of the battery. So I went ahead, popped open the hood and tampered with the battery. The parking officer simply drives by, not bothering to help or even ask, "Any problems?" How safe is our vehicles, really?

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